Past, Present & Future

Citation

Coultard, F. (2005), "Past, Present & Future", Circuit World, Vol. 31 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/cw.2005.21731baf.001

Past, Present & Future

Past, Present & Future

Keywords: Printed circuits

As the American PC Fab Magazine reported in 1999 (Printed Circuit Fabrication, 1999) – “In 1903, Albert Hanson, a Berliner living in London, filed a 'printed' wire patent (Hanson, 1903) aimed at solving the needs of the telephone exchange. Although not a true printed circuit, Hanson's method produced conductive metal patterns on a dielectric by cutting or stamping copper or brass foil patterns and adhesively bonding them to paraffin paper and the like.

Hanson's innovations can still be seen in 'modern' circuitry. This early inventor had already recognised that high density would be of great importance; therefore, he designed his circuits on both sides of the dielectric. Also recognising that interlayer connections were critical, he added access holes to permit the top and bottom conductors to be selectively connected. Although the connections included only crude crimping and twisting, his 1903 patent clearly describes the concept of double-sided through-hole circuitry. Hanson also stated that conductors could be formed in situ by electro-deposition or by applying metal powder in a suitable medium (conductive ink). It is both remarkable and humbling that the first circuit pattern touched on so many concepts considered to be of modern origin”.

Edison (1889) in response to a request from the Sprague Electric Company to resolve the mass- producible wiring problem went on to describe several methods, which were notably additive. Indeed most of the early techniques were additive, but the printing industry had long used subtractive methods which are largely those in use today.

The “father” of printed circuits, Eisler (1989)[1] used his inventive mind to create solutions to armament threats in wartime and also founded his companies, Technograph Printed Circuits Ltd in the UK and Technograph Printed Circuits Inc. in the USA. Eisler's patents for printed electrical circuits were finally granted by the US Patents office. However, Technograph Printed Circuits Inc. lost subsequent legal battles with the Bendix Corporation, which made counter claims and Paul Eisler was dethroned as the father of printed circuitry. He felt badly wronged but it was clear that the printed circuit was not invented by a single person but by many inventors who contributed to the total concept over a number of decades”. For a much more in-depth treatment of the history of the PCB I refer you to and commend an excellent paper in Vol. 31 No. 1, 2004 of Circuit World entitled “The origins and evolution of the PCB: a review” by authors from Brunel University.

Here and now in the UK, the PCB situation is more cheerful with evidently more optimism, albeit in a still hugely demanding business environment. Our fabricator and supplier members have been meeting regularly each quarter addressing agendas created and decided by them. Some special extra meetings have been convened in between to deal with particular topics when appropriate. On 2nd September there is a roundtable discussion and debate with the chairs and vice chairs of these groups, representatives from the editorship of the publication “Components in Electronics”, Loughborough University and also the EMS companies; this should be a very useful forum. The fabricators and suppliers are working to produce a White Paper for the groups to be used as a backcloth for promoting the cause of the UK's PCB industry to government. Recognition by government of the strategic significance of the PCB to the UK's electronics industry will be actively sought and meaningful benefits will be strongly demanded.

The first meeting of the newly formed Electronics Design and Innovation Group was held on 16th July with a follow on meeting arranged for 22nd September.

Additionally, the first meeting of the Electronics Leadership Council occurred on 15th July as part of the eIGT initiative; follow on meetings for that are set for 12th October and then 7th February 2005.

The Institute of Printed Circuit Technology (ICT) Council has appointed Bill Wilkie to the new post of technical director. Bill will be concentrating on recruitment and developing an even more vigorous programme for the ICT, Fabricator and Supply Chain members. He is well known, well liked and well respected in our industry and we all wish him all the best. Bill's post is to be funded by the ICT's private funds. The ICT are also exploring possible synergy with both the Northern UK Group and the EDRG.

Intellect is sponsoring a table at the Electronics Innovative Design Awards Dinner at Gatwick on 23rd September. At this dinner Tim Reynoldson of the DTI who has been an extremely helpful and knowledgeable ally to our part of the electronics industry over many years will be awarded a lifetime award, which is well deserved. We all wish him well in his retirement to Worthing in Sussex.

We have just heard that the bid to the EPSRC by Loughborough University for a new Innovative Electronics Research Centre to be established at the University has been successful; this is an excellent news and more of that will be discussed in the next issue.

The components and manufacturing (C&M) services arm of Intellect has been working closely with Envirowise to persuade companies to have a greater awareness of environmental responsibility; we attended the launch of “The Big Splash” at the Westminster Boat House when Margaret Beckett addressed the audience on this initiative to encourage companies by financial incentives to save water. Additionally we have been exhibiting and attending the Envirowise Road Shows, which have been very well supported at various locations around the UK.

C&M are staging a dinner in London on 27th October. This will have two keynote speakers and is designed as an alternative to the Annual Conference of the past; networking opportunities are seen by many as the key benefit of these forums rather than listening to up to eight papers during a long day.

We look forward to the first stage report of the eIGT in October 2004. Many interviews are being conducted by Intellect and the DTI in tandem with industry to serve as a basis of first hand knowledge for this report.

Intellect will have a stand at the Electronica Show in Munich where many members will be in attendance.

There will be another business briefing on 24th November at a location in London with the theme of “Business Knowledge”. These briefings have proved to be very popular and will remain as a regular feature.

It is pleasing to know that at last Intellect's old Red Lion Street offices have been off-loaded and the refurbishment of the Russell Square Offices should be completed by December 2004. In the meantime meeting room availability will be limited, but accommodation will be sought elsewhere or at member's premises where appropriate.

The further future for our industry looks brighter and the accent will be on swift service with innovation and the adoption of new technologies. There are signs and many papers in the press about the vulnerability in some cases of the significant outsourcing to the Far East (especially China) and elsewhere. The editorial by Steve Gold (publisher of Circuitree Magazine) in the May 2004 edition was a well-balanced view entitled “Off-Shore Manufacturing Leaves Many Questions Unanswered”; the jury is still out on this topic. The same publication paged another paper in their June edition entitled “North American Fabricators Get Their Groove Back” which was encouraging. The Intellect statistic services highlighted at the last fabricator/ supplier quarterly meeting in July the continuing improvement in the recent figures especially in specific types of technology and also particular industry sectors. Things are on the up but on the whole are still patchy, but there is now better hope after what has been the most savage downturn in our history. Recruitment and the preservation of the supply chain seem to be the latest concerns and challenges for our industry.

Frank CoultardIntellect

Note1. From article by Ken Gilleo of Alpha Metals and Jerry Murray West Coast Editor of PCB Fab.